Fluorescence Emission of Self-assembling Amyloid-like Peptides: Solution versus Solid State

Abstract

Analysis of the intrinsic UV-visible fluorescence exhibited by self-assembling amyloid-like peptides in solution and in solid the state highlights that their physical state has a profound impact on the optical properties. In the solid state, a linear dependence of the fluorescence emission peaks as a function of excitation wavelength is detected. On the contrary, an excitation-independent emission is observed in solution. The present findings constitute a valuable benchmark for current and future explanations of the fluorescence emission by amyloids.

Keywords: amyloid fluorescence; intrinsic fluorescence; peptide materials; self-assembly; solid state.